Presenters Kate Garraway and Emma Crosby are understood to be devastated over the former One Show host’s sudden signing.

There is talk behind the scenes that ITV director of television Peter Fincham appointed Bleakley for her glamour and that her ­journalism skills are not up to the role.

And after months of penny pinching and redundancies, loyal staff are furious bosses have suddenly found a spare £10million to lure Chiles and Bleakley.

The revamped GMTV will have a new set and name, likely to be Day, and a news-focused agenda with more ­journalism and fewer fluffy celebrity chats.

Some welcome Bleakley, 31, but others have expressed anger over the former Strictly Come Dancing star’s three-year contract on the show, due to start in September.

One executive said: “We were told they want more journalistic focus to GMTV but then why give hard-working, down-to-earth reporters like Penny Smith and John Stapleton the boot, and ­effectively kick out Kate Garraway and Emma Crosby. Christine may be able to temper Adrian Chiles, but what is in ­question is her credentials as a journalist.”

Another said: “There was almost zero consultation with most staff. Even in meetings up to a week ago managers just told us Christine was the ‘elephant in the room’ and they wouldn’t be saying any more.

“The first we heard Christine was coming was when it was in the papers.

“It was handled very poorly but unfortunately that was no surprise.

“It seems odd to bring in someone with almost no journalistic background to a role which we’ve heard will be extremely news focused.”

A senior source revealed her lack of reporting experience had been a sticking point for managers.

The source said: “There is a big difference between asking a celebrity about their latest TV show and grilling the Prime Minister over budget cuts.

“It’s very frustrating. We are being told to take on the BBC but bosses seem intent on turning us into a carbon copy.”

Bleakley started her TV career as a runner before training to be a floor manager.

She dropped out of a politics degree course and her only taste of journalism was on radio station Belfast Citybeat – reading out the news on a show she presented.

Garraway and Crosby were due to meet executives yesterday to talk about their futures.

Last night an ITV spokesman said: “Christine and Adrian have a breadth and depth of presenting abilities and we have a hugely talented production team.

“We are very confident of their abilities to deliver top-level ­journalism and entertainment.

“Conversations are taking place with GMTV presenters regarding involvement in the new show.”